The Adelaide Hills sit about thirty minutes east of Adelaide and they are, by almost any measure, one of the most dog-friendly regions in Australia.
Hahndorf, the German-influenced village at the foot of the Hills, is consistently ranked among Australia's top destinations for pet-friendliness. The main street is long, beautiful, lined with outdoor dining and boutique shops, and genuinely welcoming to dogs in a way that feels organic rather than commercial.
The wineries in the Hills are some of the best in South Australia. Several of them run dedicated dog events. One of them lets your dog come inside the cellar door.
And unusually for Australia, the main national park in the region actually permits dogs on leash.
The Adelaide Hills are the kind of destination that dog owners in South Australia know about and interstate visitors consistently underestimate. This guide fixes that.
Hahndorf
Start here. Always start here.
Hahndorf is about forty minutes from Adelaide and the drive through the Hills to reach it is beautiful in its own right. The town itself is a former German settlement with heritage architecture, a long main street, excellent food and coffee, and a culture that treats dogs as part of the scenery rather than an inconvenience.
Walk the full length of the main street with your dog. Stop at The Haus Restaurant or the Hahndorf Inn for lunch. Browse the boutique shops. The town is compact enough that a full morning covers it comfortably and you will not want to leave.
The wineries
The Adelaide Hills wine region produces outstanding cool-climate wines and a significant number of its cellar doors welcome dogs.
Simon Tolley Cellar Door in Woodside is the one that deserves special mention. Dogs are welcome at any time and on the third Sunday of every month they run Pinot and Pooch Day. Free treats for dogs, a walk around the vineyard, and a tasting session for their people. It is one of the best dog-specific winery events in Australia and worth timing your trip around.
Nepenthe and Petaluma both provide water bowls and treats and genuinely welcome dogs in their outdoor areas. Talunga Estate has a licensed cafe alongside the cellar door where dogs are welcome outside.
The general principle applies here as it does everywhere: call ahead. A five minute call means you arrive somewhere prepared for your dog rather than scrambling.
Belair National Park
Belair is unusual. Most national parks in Australia prohibit dogs entirely. Belair, which sits just thirteen kilometres south of Adelaide, permits dogs on leash on its walking trails.
The Waterfall Hike is the pick of the park. Beautiful natural bushland, rock escarpments, wildflowers in spring, and wildlife including emus, koalas, and kangaroos. A $12.50 vehicle entry fee applies at the gate.
Keep dogs on a short leash throughout the park. The wildlife is close and the whole point of the park is its natural ecology. Responsible behaviour in Belair helps ensure it remains one of the few national parks in the country that allows dogs at all.
McLaren Vale side trip
About forty minutes south of the Hills, McLaren Vale is worth a half-day side trip. Wirra Wirra winery is regularly described as the most genuinely dog-friendly winery in South Australia. A large notice board at the entrance announces that dogs are welcome. Dogs can go inside the cellar door. Lots of grassed areas to wander. If you are making the trip to South Australia, Wirra Wirra is worth including.
Practical tips
The Adelaide Hills in summer can be genuinely hot, particularly in January and February. Early morning walks, shade, and fresh water are essential. Never leave your dog in a car at a winery stop.
The Hills are beautiful in autumn with the deciduous trees turning, and genuinely cold in winter. Both seasons are excellent for dogs. Spring with the wildflowers in bloom is the single best time to walk Belair.
Accommodation in the Hills with genuinely fenced outdoor space books out fast for long weekends and school holidays. The region is popular with Adelaide locals and properties fill up early.
The Adelaide Hills are genuinely one of Australia's most dog-welcoming regions. Hahndorf alone is worth the trip. If you find a winery or cafe worth adding write to us at hello@pawtrips.com.au.
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